Fluid treating device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a device for treating fluids and is illustrated by structures including a barrel connectable in series in the fluid supply, a body rotatable on the barrel, selectively alignable passages in the barrel and the body for serially passing fluid therethrough, serially water treating means externally insertable in selected passsages or chambers in the body.

Unified States Patent 1 Crowley et al.

[451 Sept. 18, 1973 FLUlD TREATHNG DEVICE Inventors: Duane E. Crowley,3649 Elin Ct., Flossmoor; Roy M. Hoffman, 60 Judith Ln., ChicagoHeights, both of 111.; Evan D. Roberts, 818 Elm, Flossmoor, 111. 60422Filed: Nov. 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 200,442

US. Cl 137/268, 239/310, 239/315 Int. Cl B0115 1/00, E03c 1/046, B0ld11/02 Field of Search 137/268, 625.29;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Palmer 239/315 5/1963 4/19575/1930 Pulkinghorn 239/310 X 2,120,807 6/1938 Kundel 137/268 UX2,602,699 7/1952 Otto et al.... 3,220,656 11/1965 Birdsong 137/268 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 229,226 2/1925 Great Britain 137/268Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Assistant ExaminerRobert J. MillerAttorneyEvan D. Roberts [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a device fortreating fluids and is illustrated by structures including a barrelconnectable in series in the fluid supply, a body rotatable on thebarrel, selectively alignable passages in the barrel and the body forserially passing fluid therethrough, serially water treating meansexternally insertable in selected passsages or chambers in the body.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED SE" 8 I75 FIG-3 FLUID TREATINGDEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device, theobject of which is, to treat fluids, and particularly the treating ofbathroom shower water.

Another object of this inventin is to provide a fluid treating devicewhich is readily installed in existing shower heads or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device to facilitateselective multiple treatment of fluids without significant interruptionin fluid flow.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fluid treatingdevice having selectively externally replaceble fluid treating means.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shower head assembly with the fluid treatingdevice of this invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fluid treating device of thisinvention taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the configurationand interrelation of the elements thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing aselected path of fluid flow adjacent the fluid treating means andthrough one of the multiple treating chambers;

FIG. 4 is a side view of fluid treating material being installed in oneillustrative fluid treating means prior to insertions thereof in thebody of the fluid treating device of this invention, and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second illustrative fluid treating means withtreating material therein prior to insertion thereof in the body of thefluid treating device of this invention.

The fluid treating device of this invention, generally designated by thenumeral 10, is illustrated (FIG. 1) in conjunction with a bathroomshower head as a water treating device for selectively treating theshower water. Treating device It) (FIGS. 1-3) includes, generally, abarrel Ill, a body 12 and water treating means 13 (FIG. 4).

Barrel 11 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is threadably attached between a shower outletI5 and an extension pipe 16 of a shower nozzle head I7. A first passage18 is provided in one end of barrel 11 adjacent shower outlet to receivewater from a passage 19 in outlet 15 (upper arrows FIG. 3) and openslaterally through a first barrel aperture 20. A second passage 21 isprovided in the other end of barrel 11 adjacent shower head extension 16to pass water from a second laterally opening aperture 22 to passage 23in extension 16 (lower arrows FIG. 3).

Body 12 (FIG. 3) includes, generally, a central bearing tube 25rotatably and complementally mounted on barrel l1 and retained againstlongitudinal movement therealong by retaining rings 26 positioned inexternal grooves 27. A body chamber 28 is rigidly secured to tube 25 andis provided with discrete chambers 29 each of which is defined by innerbarrel surface 30, upper or entrance wall 31, lower or exit wall 32,tube surface 33 and longitudianal partitions 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Eachchamber 29 is provided with a threaded aperture 35 in lower surface 32,and inlet and outlet apertures 36 and 37 in tube surface 33 which arerespectively alignable with first and second barrel apertures-20 and 22.

A first embodiment of water treating means 13 (FIGS. 3 and 4) includes,generally, a removable plug 40 having a finger twist grip 41 andthreaded portion 42, shaft 43 and treating material 44. Threads 42 areadapted to threadably engage threaded aperture 32 and material 44 iscomprised of stacked pellet segments 45 having apertures 46 adapted toreceive shaft 43.

A second embodiment of the water treating means is generally designatedby the numeral 13a (FIG. 5) and includes, generally, a removable plug 50having a finger twist grip 51 and threaded portion 52, screen container53, screen retainer 54 and treating granules within container 53.

In operation, the water treating device 10 of this invention isinstalled in a water or other fluid system such as a bathroom shower(FIGS. 1 and 2) between shower outlet 15 and shower head 17 by threadingone end of barrel 11 over outlet 15, and the other end of the barrel 11over an extension 16 which is threaded into shower head 17. Treatingpellet segments 45, to collectively provide the treating material 44,are selected from a variety of compositions such as soap, shampoo, watersoftener, soap rinse, baby oil, skin medication materials and similarmaterials.

The selected pellets 45, such as soap, are stacked on plug 40, (FIGS. 3and 4) of water treating means 13 with apertures 46 over shaft 43. Watertreating means 13, along with other similarly stacked water treatingmeans 13 are respectively threaded into selected threaded apertures 35of respective discrete chambers 29 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

When the shower is turned on (FIG. 3) the water will pass from passage19 of outlet 15, through first passage 18, selectively aligned apertures20 and 35, chamber 29, around treating material 44, aligned apertures 22and 36, second passage 21, passage 23 of extension 16, and out throughshower head 17 for the benefit of the person using the shower. As thewater passes through chamber 29 around treating material 44, the waterwill be conditioned or treated by the particular selected material 44 ofwhichever chamer 29 is rotated to a position on barrel II with itsapertures 35 and 36 thereof aligned with barrel apertures 20 and 22.

The second embodiment of water treating means 13a (FIG. 5) is used in anidentical fashion with that of water treating means 13 (FIG. 4) asexplained above. However in treating means 13a, granuals 55 are loadedinto screen container 53 which is then frictionally or similarly securedin retainer 54 of the plug 50 in preparation for insertion into aselected chamber 29 for use as described above for means 13.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as it willbe understood to those skilled in the art that changes may be madewithout departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

I. A fluid treating device comprising a barrel connectable with a fluidsource and having separate first and second axially spaced passagestherein respectively adapted for passing the fluid therethrough, siadfirst passage having an outlet opening adapted to pass the fluid fromsaid barrel, said second passage having an inlet opening adapted toreceive the fluid into said barrel, a body mounted on said barrel forselective rotation thereon in fixed axial relation thereto, said bodyhaving discrete chambers with inlet and outlet openings adapted to berespectively selectively connected with said first and second passageoutlet and inlet to complete a fluid passage therebetween through anyselected one of said discrete chambers, and fluid treating meansrespectively externally positionable into said chambers and into thefluid path in said chambers for conditioning the fluid passingtherethrough.

2. A fluid treating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chambersare provided with external openings therein adapted to respectivelyremovably receive said water treating means.

3. A fluid treating device as defined in claim 2 wherein said fluidtreating means comprises a retainer removably securable in a selectedexternal chamber opening and adapted to retain a fluid treating materialin the fluid path in said chamber for treating the fluid.

4. A fluid treating device as defined in claim 3 wherein said retainercomprises a removable plug having a rod adapted to extend into saidchamber when said plug is positioned in said external chamber opening,and said fluid treating material is provided with an aperture forreceiving said retainer rod to position said treating material on saidrod in the fluid path of said chamber.

5. A fluid treating device as defined in claim 3 wherein said retainercomprised a removable plug having a water permeable retaining basketdetachably securable thereto and extending into said chamber whensecured to said plug and said plug is positioned in said externalopening, and said fluid treating material is insertable in said basketwhen said basket is detached from said plug whereby said treatingmaterial is positioned within said basket in the fluid path of saidchamher.

1. A fluid treating device comprising a barrel connectable with a fluidsource and having separate first and second axially spaced passagestherein respectively adapted for passing the fluid therethrough, siadfirst passage having an outlet opening adapted to pass the fluid fromsaid barrel, said second passage having an inlet opening adapted toreceive the fluid into said barrel, a body mounted on said barrel forselective rotation thereon in fixed axial relation thereto, said bodyhaving discrete chambers with inlet and outlet openings adapted to berespectively selectively connected with said first and second passageoutlet and inlet to cOmplete a fluid passage therebetween through anyselected one of said discrete chambers, and fluid treating meansrespectively externally positionable into said chambers and into thefluid path in said chambers for conditioning the fluid passingtherethrough.
 2. A fluid treating device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid chambers are provided with external openings therein adapted torespectively removably receive said water treating means.
 3. A fluidtreating device as defined in claim 2 wherein said fluid treating meanscomprises a retainer removably securable in a selected external chamberopening and adapted to retain a fluid treating material in the fluidpath in said chamber for treating the fluid.
 4. A fluid treating deviceas defined in claim 3 wherein said retainer comprises a removable plughaving a rod adapted to extend into said chamber when said plug ispositioned in said external chamber opening, and said fluid treatingmaterial is provided with an aperture for receiving said retainer rod toposition said treating material on said rod in the fluid path of saidchamber.
 5. A fluid treating device as defined in claim 3 wherein saidretainer comprised a removable plug having a water permeable retainingbasket detachably securable thereto and extending into said chamber whensecured to said plug and said plug is positioned in said externalopening, and said fluid treating material is insertable in said basketwhen said basket is detached from said plug whereby said treatingmaterial is positioned within said basket in the fluid path of saidchamber.